Top Ten TSA Decisions of the Decade?

There was a time, many moons ago, when I thought that I might have a chance at making a difference in some of the areas where I felt we were lacking in the Army. As a very new Officer (by months) I met with a few fellow ‘newbie’s’ and we would of course put the Army right. Most of you know what that is and over the years I have seen this as a ‘sacred’ part of our culture and believe that it is one of the areas where officers can begin to make changes in some of the areas that need to improve. After one of these ‘newbie’ sessions where we all agreed that something needed to be done and so being young, possibly arrogant, ignorant and full of my own importance, I drafted a letter to the Commissioner, and in no uncertain terms laid out what my, or I should say ‘our’, concerns were. Posted it off and waited. I did get a one line note back saying that my concerns ‘had been noted’, and nothing else ever eventuated. However I was surprised that when I told my fellow newbie officers at our next meeting and told than what I had done; their biggest concern was ‘You didn’t mention our names did you?” Such is life.

I also remember at an Officer’s fellowship once where we were playing cards and talking about our Corps locals and it degenerated into a very holy realignment of our various Corps Locals. “I will ‘bet’ one miserable Bandmaster in exchange for two good Home Leaguers” said I, “and I will raise you one mean and incompetent Corps Treasurer for a Songster Leader who is sympathetic to the message;” etc, etc, you get the drift, and I am in no doubt that our local corps soldiers do the same thing about the officers that had been dropped on them from a great height. It still happens and last week I was asked if an officer going to a new Corps had any skeletons in their closet. This was from a soldier at a Corps where I was CO for two years and without doubt it was two of the worst years of my life. (Read; ‘People of the Lie’ by M. Scott Peck)

Over the years I have learned a few things, but still feel that I have so much to learn that I now feel that there is not enough time left, you know the old heads on young shoulders syndrome; however one of the things that I have learned is that when I became a ‘former’ all those things that I hoped to change when, and if, I was promoted to a place where I could have possibly made a difference, had to be left to others who might feel the same and continue working for improvement. It is one of the most painful feelings leaving things undone in any area of life.

I read with interest Commissioner Joe’s list of the ‘Top Ten Decisions of the Decade’ as far as the Salvation Army is concerned; or should we add in his view. I was greatly troubled from what I read and it was nothing to do with the actual decisions as he states they are “(Good or bad, right or wrong, will depend upon the reader’s perspective). Except for #4, I remain noncommittal, at least until the (my) next book is written.” However there does seem to be a hint of negativity from just putting together this list, and circulating it in this forum. It is human nature that in a group with very dramatic hurts and possible ongoing trauma from the way people have been treated by individuals in positions of power within the Army that it might have a resonance that will confirm very negative emotions in many people. I want to ask the question ‘What difference is this going to make to the future of the Army?’ If we believe that the Army was raised up by God and he continues to call people to follow him through it, then it surely is fair to assume that there are still people left in Authority in our great movement who feel the same and that they will pick up the ‘fight’ to rectify what we perceive as wrong. I would probably agree with Commissioner Joe about all the issues that he raises and be just as angry and crying out for justice as well, but not being part of the establishment any more as a ‘former’ (or retired), then if I were to raise these issues it could possibly be seen as a version of ‘Sour Grapes’ on my part.

I have recently been in contact with a CEO of a Not for Profit organisation whose mantra is ‘I am not here to develop your strengths but to improve your weaknesses’, when all current management theory is about developing strengths and managing the weaknesses. In the church over many years I have observed that we are such a caring group of people’ we are all about improving weaknesses wherever we find them and this by definition often puts us in the position of ignoring our strengths.

I was recently at the 80th birthday celebrations for General Eva Burrows, who was my Commissioner for a few years, and among the things that struck me as significant was that there were so many positives that emerged from her life and ministry.I was again struck by what I had missed out on as a ‘former’ and while that is so very painful, I believe that it is a far better feeling than spending available energy on replaying the negative like a cracked record that just will not stop.

I have counselled and coached many people who have been damaged by the Army and other organisations, let us not think that we are unique in the way that people have been dealt with by a minority of our leaders, and I personally recognise the pain of what could have been if..... However I want to move on and concentrate on what are our strengths, be they as an Army or as individuals like our formers who are doing great things despite how they have been dealt with. I continue to recognise the sacred responsibility that we all have of ‘putting the Army right’ but let’s not leave at just that. I believe that we have a responsibility to now focus on the positives so that the future will be bright for the Army; and for us as individuals.

Tell me what you think; am I alone in feeling this way?

Fletch
Peter Fletcher
Former
Australia